A genus of small nocturnal monkeys found in Central and South America, also called night monkeys or owl monkeys.
From Greek a- (without) and ous (ear), referring to the monkeys' minimal external ears or their silent nature. The name dates to 19th-century zoological classification when European naturalists catalogued New World primates.
Aotus monkeys are the only truly nocturnal monkeys in the world, and they have enormous forward-facing eyes—like owls—that let them see in near-total darkness. Their reflective eye shine is so bright that rainforest natives historically thought they were supernatural beings.
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